STATE COLLEGE -- The goal horn was loud, the student section steep, both as promised from Penn State alum and Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula, who funded the newest arena on Penn State's University Park campus with his wife, Kim.

Penn State opened the 2013-2014 men's hockey season at the earliest moment it could, holding a 30-minute practice that began at midnight Saturday at Pegula Ice Arena to not only kick-off the build-up to Friday night's season-opener with Army, but give fans a chance to see the team and arena early, too.

"To me, it's like getting the NHL experience that I get to go to once a year every other Friday at like a third of the cost," State College resident Matt Seybert said. "The atmosphere is awesome. I had no idea what to expect, but it's awesome and better than I thought.

"Last year, they were not suppose to win many games, but they took a ton of games off Big Ten teams. I'm expecting them to build on that, because they have some new players and have been together longer."

An estimated 1,000 fans filled the designated student section of the arena, showing up as early as 11 p.m. for the event, which started promptly at midnight with player introductions and ran until 12:30 p.m. when forward and captain Tommy Olczyk displayed fine stick handling to slide the puck into the netting on the final shoot-out attempt of the night.

Penn State forward and captain Tommy Olczyk (14) waits with defenseman Connor Varley (2) and forward Taylor Holstrom to take part in a drill during the Lions' midnight practice Sat., Oct. 5. Greg Pickel/Special to PennLive

Head coach Guy Gadowsky, entering his third year with the program after a stint at Princeton, was mic'd for the occasion, explaining drills and answering fans questions as he observed his players working together on the ice for the first time. NCAA rules dictate that coach-led practices cannot begin until Oct. 5.

There was no clarity to be gained into the plethora of position battles that dot the Lions' roster on this night. Instead, simplicity and fundamentals were the name of the game, as Gadowsky and assistant coaches Keith Fisher and Matt Lindsay put their players through defensive zone and passing drills, three-on-two and five-on-five situational play, and shoot-outs.

"These teams are the monsters of the nation, and they will be here, so we really need you to be at your best," Gadowsky told the crowd about the five other programs that make-up the newly established Big Ten hockey conference. "Mr. Pegula, he built this thing for you.

"He wants this to be the most rocking arena in college hockey. This is so cool to see so many people here."